China Aid Association
(Midland, Texas–July 4, 2012) ChinaAid has learned that the European Parliament plans to vote on an emergency resolution on Thursday to condemn the forced abortion performed on a woman in Shaanxi province, Feng Jianmei, who was seven months pregnant.

The resolution cites the local government’s brutal infringement of the rights of Feng, a peasant from Zhenping county, Ankang city.

The resolution says, “[O]n June 2 2012, a seven-month pregnant woman, Feng Jianmei was abducted and underwent a forced late term abortion in Zhenping county, Shanxi province, sparking a wave of indignation and condemnation in China and around the world.”

It points out that “as a result of China's one-child policy, illegal and sex- selective abortions are widespread, creating an imbalance between the numbers of men and women.”

The resolution “[s]trongly condemns the decision to force Feng Jianmei to have an abortion and condemns the practice of forced abortions and sterilisations globally and especially in the context of the one-child policy.”

ChinaAid welcomes this swift response on the part of the European Parliament. At the same time, however, we have noted that this resolution does not actually recognize that the rights of a seven-month old fetus should be protected. Nor does it clearly or directly oppose the root cause of all of these crimes that seriously violate the rights of mothers and babies: China’s one-child family planning policy.

The full text of the resolution reads:
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2009 – 2014

02.07.2012

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

- having regard to the reports submitted under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Optional Protocol thereto, and to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

- having regard to the UN Convention on Rights of the Child,

- having regard to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, (1994)

- having regard to China's One Child Policy and to China's laws on abortion ( ALDE, Greens )

- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas on June 2 2012, a seven-month pregnant woman, Feng Jianmei was abducted and underwent a forced late term abortion in Zhenping county, Shanxi province, sparking a wave of indignation and condemnation in China and around the world; (EPP A modified, S&D E modified, ALDE A modified, GREENS A modified, GUE A modified, ECR A and B modified)

B. whereas according to Chinese law, abortions beyond 6 months are illegal; whereas, the municipal government of Ankang conducted an investigation that concluded that officials in Zhenping county used "crude means" and "persuaded" her to abort the fetus; whereas the report stated that this decision violated her rights; whereas the city government of Ankang has announced punishments for local planning officials involved in this case including sacking; (S&D F partially; ALDE E modified; GREENS C, GUE B modified, ECR E modified)

C. Whereas according to this investigation, local officials had asked Feng's family a "guarantee deposit" of 40.000 RMB which according to Feng's husband was a fine for having a second child; whereas local authorities had no legal ground to collect such a deposit; whereas Feng was forced to sign a consent form to terminate her pregnancy because she would not pay the fine, and was kept by guards in the hospital
(ALDE C & D modified, GREENS D)

D. Whereas as a result of China's one-child policy, illegal and sex- selective abortions are widespread, creating an imbalance between the numbers of men and women; (S&D C modified, ALDE F&G modified, GREENS I modified, ECR F partially modified)

1. Strongly underlines that in line with the International Conference on Population and Development Plan of Action (ICPD PoA) the aim of family planning programs must be to enable couples and individuals to make free, responsible and informed decisions about child-bearing and to make available a full range of safe, effective and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice,. Any form of coercion has no part to play;

6. Takes note of the fact that Feng’s case became widely known thanks to the internet and stresses the importance of freedom of expression including online; welcomes with satisfaction the emergence of a public debating sphere partly thanks to microblogging; (Greens 4)

7. Considers important the ongoing debate among the intellectual and academics whether or not to continue with the one-child policy in China; (S&D 5)

8. Calls on the Commission and the External Action Service to include forced abortion in the agenda of their next bilateral human rights dialogue with China, (EPP 5)

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, the Government and Parliament of the People's Republic of China.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

on the forced abortion scandal in China

AMENDMENTS tabled by XX on behalf of XX

§2 Reiterates the fundamental right of all women to accessto public health care systems, in particular to primary, gynaecologic and obstetric health care as defined by the World Health Organisation; reproductive health care, including family planning and assisted childbirth;

AM 8 bis new Invites the Commission to review its close partnership and funding of UNFPA, IPPF and Marie-Stopes-International when financing family planning services;
AM 8 ter new Urges the Commission to review its funding to organizations involved in the provision of family planning services to ensure that it does not breach the remarks of Section III, Title 21 of the General Budget of the European Union for the financial year 2012;